| | eMedicine - Pars Interarticularis Injury : Article by Gerard A Malanga, MD |
 | | The defect of the pars interarticularis is believed by most authors to represent a fatigue fracture caused by repetitive loading and unloading of this region of the vertebrae from physical activity. |
 | | Green et al concluded from their cadaveric study on pars interarticularis stress investigating mechanical loading that activities involving alternating flexion and extension movements cause large stress reversals in the pars interarticularis, thereby creating the highest risk for developing a pars defect. |
 | | The lateral oblique view, in which the pars interarticularis is best visualized, is described as having the appearance of a “Scotty dog.” In isthmic spondylolytic lesions, the Scotty dog is described as having the appearance of a “collar” or a “broken neck,” which is thought to be a pathognomonic finding (Standaert, 2000). |
| www.emedicine.com /SPORTS/topic94.htm (9368 words) |